Dakhla

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Image: Dakhla is a watersports hotspot

Dakhla, sometimes known as al-Dakhla, is built on a narrow peninsula that protudes into the Atlantic Ocean and runs parallel to the African coast. An Amazigh settlement since ancient times, these days it has a growing reputation as a leading global destination for watersports lovers.

To get to Dakhla you have a choice of flying from Casablanca airport, or making your way by land. This second option gives you the chance to see the Sahara - the single road to Dakhla winds through the desert along the coast, passing many traditional villages and campsites. When you finally arrive at Dakhla it’s like finding a secret oasis.

The town is a mix of Amazigh influence and Spanish architecture, a remnant from colonial times. You’ll quickly notice that the prevailing feel of Dakhla is laid back and relaxed, befitting its popularity as a haven for watersports enthusiasts. It’s a town where you can relax, absorb the culture, and enjoy stunning views across the Atlantic Ocean.

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Dakhla Beaches

Dakhla Desert Treks

Dakhla Food and Drink

Dakhla Kitesurfing

Dakhla Motorcycling

Dakhla People

Dakhla Beaches

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The Dakhla Lagoon

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Where the sand meets the sea

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The area is great for windsurfing

Thrusting out into the Atlantic Ocean on a spit of land, the area around Dakhla has long, sunbleached beaches that are warmed by the sub-tropical sunshine and, even better, are surprisingly quiet. The beaches are primarily used as launch points for people enjoying the fantastic water sports on offer in the huge, turquoise Dakhla lagoon. It’s one of the greatest spots in the world for both kite and windsurfing, with strong winds blowing consistently along the shoreline.

Of course, nowhere is truly empty and you can find all sorts of wildlife here – flamingos and crabs live in the area, and the occasional dolphin pops its head out of the surf to see what’s going on. Don’t forget to visit Dragon Island, an offshore dune shaped as a dragon when seen from the side, which is said to be magical, unspoiled and a perfect place to find peace. You can go by boat, swim or walk at low tide.

Dakhla Desert Treks

Image: Take a trek into the Sahara for the journey of a lifetime

The Sahara desert covers 3.6 million miles, has dunes up to four hundred feet high, and over twelve hundred different species of plants. It’s a fascinating place to explore and one of the best places to do this is from Dakhla.

You can trek into the western portion of the desert on foot, camel, or rather more quickly by quad bike or air-conditioned 4X4. You’ll be in the area where the desert meets the ocean, so when you find the heat of the Sahara too much to bear it’s only a short trip back to the coast where the temperatures are far more comfortable.

Dakhla Food and Drink

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Fresh fish is a speciality of Dakhla

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Enjoy eating outdoors

When it comes to eating in Dakhla you’ll discover there is a wonderful menu of amazing dishes, just waiting for you to try.
It’s a place where the local cuisine ranges from the familiar to the exotic. Somewhere that you can eat T-Bone steak and hamburgers one day and tajine or some spiced camel the next.

Of course, as Dakhla is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, it’s a town where seafood is king of the kitchen. Freshly caught seabass, prawns, local oysters, royal lobsters, calamari and plenty of other delicious fish is hauled onto the beaches every morning before being transported to the local restaurants and markets to make that day’s delicious meals.

Dakhla Kitesurfing

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The Lagoon is a wonderful place to kitesurf

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Kiters from across the globe come to surf Dakhla.

The town of Dakhla is on a narrow spit of land that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean and runs parallel to the coastline. This fortuitous piece of geography means it’s a kitesurfer’s dream, with calm waters on the east side of the peninsula and the exhilarating waves of the Atlantic on the other.

The wonderful blue lagoon that is formed in the narrow channel is ideal for picking up kitesurfing basics and improving your skills. On the western side there are plenty of spots for more experienced surfers too, hence the many international competitions that take place here.

It’s the wind that makes Dakhla so perfect for kitesurfing. Averaging around 20-35 knots it’s almost unbelievably consistent – even in December and January it’s still 60% reliable. Waves reach around two metres, and are usually bigger during the summer. Add that to the long, sandy, obstacle-free beaches and the wonderfully warm water and you’ll understand why this Moroccan town has become so popular with kite surfers.

Dakhla Motorcycling

Image: Ride the sands of Dakhla

If you’re one of the thousands of people planning to travel around Morocco on the back of a motorbike then Dakhla should be a key part of your itinerary. The journey to the long thin peninsula is a stunning ride through unspoilt desert, mainly along coast roads which give you uninterrupted views out over the Atlantic. Occasionally the road veers inland and takes you through traditional Moroccan villages where the temperature soars. Mostly though it will be just you, the road, the sea and the desert. And when you finally reach the town of Dahkla it feels as though you’ve arrived at a secret oasis, such is the epic nature of your journey.

Dakhla People

Image: The people of Dakhla are still in touch with the old traditions

Living in the Sahara Desert while surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the inhabitants of Dakhla are a people shaped by their unique environment.

The area has been inhabited by the Amazigh since ancient times, but there is a noticeable Spanish influence in the town as it was settled (and possibly even founded) by them during the sixteenth and seventeenth century. The pace of life is slow and relaxed, in tune with the rhythm of the ocean. Now that Dakhla is coming to the world’s attention as one of the top surf spots on the globe, a steady stream of western surfers are coming to the region, their laidback lifestyle fitting Dakhla perfectly.

Staying In Dakhla

Image: Stay in a beautiful riad when you visit Dakhla

Dakhla is a place well used to travellers, and there are plenty of places in the city for you to stay in. Most are on the eastern side of the peninsula which has the dual benefit of giving them protection from the winds that sweep off the Atlantic, and beautiful views across the smooth lagoon. From hostels to hotels, Dakhla has somewhere to suit all pockets.

Getting To Dakhla

Image: Fly direct into Dakhla

There are two main ways to reach Dakhla – the quick route by air and the scenic route by road. The first will get you there swiftly, but if you’re more adventurous then the journey to this peninsula close to the Sahara is the road trip of a lifetime.

You can fly into Dakhla from Marrakech, Agadir or Casablanca, making it an easy destination to reach from Britain. If you want to drive to Dakhla then most people start from Agadir. There is a bus service which takes around twenty hours, but there’s nothing to beat hiring a car and driving down the coast, with the ocean on your right and the Sahara on your left. This way you can take the journey at your own pace and enjoy the scenery in this spectacular part of the world.

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Entries From

The Journal

Sport

02/03/2015

Blown Away – Kitesurfing in Dakhla

Essaouira gets the headlines when it comes to kitesurfing – and yes, it’s good. But 1,000 miles to the south is another golden location that you should visit if you’ve got any interest in kiting – Dakhla. The key to Dakhla is the shape of the peninsula it’s on. It juts out about 10kms into…